There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.

About this creation

LIU Atlas - Ferrariae

The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.

Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.

Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the small, carbon rich planet of Ferrariae which orbits the brown dwarf star Brunneis. Brunneis is not a main sequence star as it does not have sufficient mass to fuse hydrogen-1. Brunneis generates thermal energy from the gravitational collapse of its gases and the fusion of weaker hydrogen isotopes like Deuterium. This makes it much cooler than a ‘standard’ star. Ferrariae sits in Brunneis’ extremely thin and extremely close habitable zone, only .001 AU or roughly 100,000 miles away.”

Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped of on Ferrariae’s surface in some type of busy industrial zone. There appears to be a lot of train traffic and worker movement. Strangely, it’s quite warm here despite the planet being in orbit around a brown dwarf star. Ah, I think I see my guide.”

Doog: “Hello there. I’m Doog. And you are?”
Kurg: “I’m annoyed is what I am! Thanks to your fancy show, I have to wear this freaking monkey suit!”
Doog: “Well Annoyed. Pleasure to meet you. I like your suit.”
Kurg: “Grrrr. Got ourselves a wise guy, huh? Well, I’m not the one to be messed with today. I’m currently debating on disemboweling you.”
Doog: “Settle down. Looks like we got off to a bad start. Let’s try this again. I’m Doog. And you are?”
Kurg: “I’m Kurg. I’m the supervisor of the Ferrous Works, a division of the Ferrariae Steel Company. I’m a busy man with lots of work on my plate. I don’t have time for show and tell. And I certainly don’t want to be wearing this polyester fire hazard in the middle of the Ferrous Works.”
Doog: “Well, I’m sure the viewers appreciate your sacrifice. So I keep hearing you talk about the Ferrous Works. What’s that?”
Kurg: “The works are one of two divisions of the Ferrariae Steel Company. The other being the Carbon Mines. Here, in the Ferrous Works, we process and purify iron collected from Brunneis.”

Doog: “Wait, you collect iron from a star?”
Kurg: “Yes stupid! Clean your ears out. That’s what I just said.”
Doog: “I heard you, it’s just well…I never heard of mining iron from a star.”
Kurg: “Ugh! I don’t know what’s more frustrating, your face, this suit, or the universe’s lack of knowledge when it comes to brown dwarf stars. Look, iron is abundant in all stars. It’s the sixth most abundant element in the universe. It’s just harder to procure from main sequence stars as they are too hot. Are you taking notes? I’m not saying this again! Now, where was I…oh, on brown dwarf stars, iron exists as a gas. Yes, a gas. Don’t interrupt me or I’ll smack you mouth off your face. Typical brown dwarf stars burn at two to three thousand Kelvin, more than enough to vaporize iron. As the vaporous iron cools in the upper atmosphere of the star, it condenses into iron clouds. When it cools ever further, it falls as molten iron rain. We collect this molten iron rain. It’s cheaper and purer than collecting it from a planet’s crust.”
Doog: “Looks like I’m going to need a better umbrella! But seriously, sounds cool. How is it collected?”
Kurg: “Follow me.”

Doog: “It looks like Chris Phipson’s basement down here, well, minus the screaming women.”
Kurg: “Who the heck is Chris Phipson? Sounds like a pervert.”
Doog: “Some guy I met at this award show once. So, where are we headed?”
Kurg: “To get to the processing facility near Brunneis, we’ll need to take the Rail Launch System.”
Doog: “The what?”

Kurg: “The Rail Launch System. A magnetically driven train that shuttles personnel and materials between Ferrariae and a station just above Brunneis.”
Doog: “A train that travels between two different bodies?”
Kurg: “Yes. We’ve constructed a magnetically driven track approximately one hundred thousand miles long. It’s powered by the star’s magnetic fields. The trains travels at extremely high speeds, making the trip in under fifteen minutes.”

Doog: “Look. One’s launching right now.”
Kurg: “Yes. Several trains launch everyday transporting molten iron from Brunneis to Ferrariae. Once back on Ferrariae, the molten iron is combined with carbon mined from the planet to form steel.”

Kurg: “Once this train reaches a safe distance, we’ll board a transport shuttle and head to the Brunneis Station. That is, if your weak human frame can handle the G’s. ”
Doog: “Actually, I don’t do so well with roller coasters, and I had a pretty big lunch. Maybe we should reduce the speed a tad.”
Kurg: “Haha. Yes, of course! I’d be glad to alter our operation here just to appease your weak stomach!”
Doog: “Really?”
Kurg: “No. Now let’s get going.”

Doog: “Oooh! That’s a lot of acceleration! I’m not feeling so well…”
Kurg: “Uhh! You just regurgitated your stomach contents all over my shuttle! And wait…is there vegetables in this vomit? I’ve lost the little respect I had for you!”
Doog: “No! I’m a carnivore! I swear! There was some vegetable toppings on my shark tacos! But I only ate them to get to the shark meat!”
Kurg: “Sure!”

Kurg: “If you can see out the vomit covered window, the Brunneis station is coming into view. The station uses repulsor lifts to ride the star’s magnetic field lines. Alright. Prepare for deceleration.”
Doog: “Oh no…”

Kurg: “The station has a small habitation unit attached to its side. Workers complete year round rotations on the station before returning to Ferrariae. The unit is shielded to prevent radiation contamination. If…”
Doog: “Wait. We are right above the star? Can we take a look out the window?”
Kurg: “Your interruptions infuriate me! If these windows weren’t triple layered trans-steel, I’d throw you through it. You’d see the star up close and personal! You‘d get…”
Doog: “Yeah. Yeah. I get it. Can we take a look?”
Kurg: “Gwah!!!”

Doog: “So this is a brown dwarf star? Not very bright.”
Kurg: “Not in the visible spectrum, but it is bright in the infrared spectrum. The little light you are seeing is produced when the iron clouds cool into molten rain.”
Doog: “A glowing rainstorm of fiery metal. Impressive. Whoa, check out the lightning!”
Kurg: “Yes, the star has very powerful electrical storms. Think about it. There’s tons of metal swirling around in the atmosphere.”
Doog: “Hmm. I thought about it. And now my head hurts. Thanks Kurg. Let’s continue.”

Kurg: “The molten iron is pulled aboard the station and deposited into various blast furnaces like this. The material is only about 95% pure when it is drawn into the station. These furnaces burn out any contaminants, specifically oxygen.”
Doog: “It’s hotter than @&%# in here! Holy Kaadu! Let’s go.”
Kurg: “Such a weakling…”

Doog: “Between the puking, the thinking, and this burning inferno of doom, I’m ready to pass out. I don’t know how much more I can handle.”
Kurg: “Well, I guess we’ll head back then. Ready to take the shuttle back to Ferrariae?”
Doog: “Crap! I forgot about the return trip. Maybe I’ll just throw myself into the furnace instead…”

Kurg: “How many tacos did you eat! Your stomach must be endless.”
Doog: “I don’t want to talk about it. Where are we now? Oh man, tell me that’s not another furnace.”
Kurg: “Yes, this furnace keeps the iron liquid so other elements can be added to it. Iron on its own is weak and subject to corrosion.”

Kurg: “Carbon, mined on this planet, is added to transform the iron into steel. A few smaller additives, classified additives, are added to make our unique version of steel. The mixture is then sent to the molding center to be formed into steel beams.”

Doog: “These must be the beams.”
Kurg: “Yes. Ferrariae Steel is a perfect blend of strength and flexibility. It is great for building large structures on planetary bodies. We produce millions of these beams a day, barely enough to support the galaxy’s construction boom.”
Doog: “Interesting. Well, hopefully this is it? I need a nap.”
Kurg: “Yes. Thankfully. After dealing with you all afternoon, I need a nap too. And a shower, thanks to your projectile vomiting…”

Doog: “Well folks, Ferrariae is a terrible place. It’s loud, hot, and their public transportation system leaves a lot to be desired. Don’t even get me started on the inhabitants. They’re not the most pleasant bunch. But, Ferrariae is an important world. By harvesting its brown dwarf stars abundant iron, they are able to produce quality steel. Well, see ya next time.”

Note: Turn in next time for the season finale of LIU Atlas when Doog finally gets his due…well maybe.

I think that your industrial MOCs are absolutely brilliant, especially with all of the brick built writing. I enjoyed all of the facts that were tucked away in the story too. From its name, do they use the steel from this planet to make red sports cars?

OOOooo... Tracks, I-beams, Steel, and Magnetism! Talk about a bit of hot working tempered with a fine quench! Does this mean a transformation to a new phase? Spins are certainly aligned in the same direction, attracting us even more to your LIU delights! Oh, and did I happen state that this episode's builds are fantastic too! ;)

I always look forward to a new LIU Atlas, it harkens back to the good old days of MOCpages when stories like this were the rule, not the exception. Phipson jokes are always good for a chuckle, even before reading the caption I was thinking along those lines. Excellent builds and photos throughout, I loved the exterior shot of the tunnel with Doog and Kurg visible though the window - pure cinematic gold. Great stuff, I look forward to the finale! Hope the between season break isn't too long... ;)